Category Archives: Hybrids 2016 – 2017

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2nd January Build Day

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On Sunday, January 29th, SOAR held a general build day for all projects at our workshop space. Progress was made on all three of our main projects — NSL, LDRS, and FSGC.

NASA Student Launch

The NSL rocketry team worked on test-fitting components and tweaking rocket layout. They also began the process of epoxying the fillets for the fins, which will take a total of three build days. The computer science and electrical engineering teams worked on tweaking the code for the landing module, getting it to use rotors to face towards a specific compass heading and lock onto that direction. That code is located on GitHub and the effect is shown in the video below.

 

Large Dangerous Rocket Ships

The LDRS rocket tubes were wet-sanded to prepare for painting, and the fin fillets finished with more sanding. The engines to be used at LDRS were recieved and inventoried. On February 1, the team met separately to begin preparing the booster motor mount with the installation of the first fin.

FSGC Hybrid Competition

The Hybrid Rockets Team finished installing their fins and assembled the altimeter bay. All that’s left for this projec before the competition is to insert the parachute, install the motor retainer, and epoxy the top part of the bulkhead plate.

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General Body Meeting

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Our general body meeting last week, on January 5th, had a great turnout! SOAR members were updated on new policies, current project statuses (see the individual project pages for more info), and upcoming events. New project leaders were introduced and the beginning of the appointment process for next year’s main leadership positions was announced. Afterwards, the NSL computer science team went to the DFX Lab to work on the code for the landing module in preparation for the January  29th build day.

SOAR’s January 25 general body meeting.

 

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January Build Day & Update

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On Sunday, January 15th, SOAR held a general build day for the NSL and FSGC Hybrid projects.

NASA Student Launch

Since the last build days, the NSL team has been busy working on the Critical Design Review Report, a 120-page document detailing our plans and data. This can be retrieved from the NSL page on our website.

The NSL team continued to work on the full-scale rocket and its programming.

NASA FSGC Hybrid Competition

The hybrid team began the assembling their rocket, building the motor mount and epoxying it in place with two of three fins.

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Hybrid Rocket in the Planning Stages

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Project Manager, Tamara Titus, sketched a fundamental design while talking over the project with SOAR's mentor.

Project Manager, Tamara Titus, sketched a fundamental design while talking over the project with SOAR’s mentor.

There are two competitions that USF SOAR will be participating in at NASA’s FSGC Hybrid Rocket Competition:

  1. Launch a rocket to maximum altitude
  2. Launch a rocket to as close as 2,000 feet

For rocket closest to 2,000 feet, the previous rocket used in the competition will be used and improved as it placed well the last competition it was used in.

For the maximum altitude, a new rocket will be built. This rocket will be light weight, with a bigger diameter, of 2.14” a motor mount for more sturdy fins and a light weight altimeter bay. The rocket will be longer to compensate for the heavy motor and contribute to the center of pressure and center of gravity distance.

A list of the materials needed to start has been made. As soon as those parts have been ordered and shipped, build days will be announced.